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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Polish abortion ban - London protest

37 replies

RoseDeGambrinus · 23/09/2016 15:07

The Polish parliament has just voted through to legislative committee a law that would ban all abortion except if the mother was dying, even in cases of rape or incest. Women could be sentenced to 5 years in prison for having an abortion or even miscarriage. Plus I think it bans the morning after pill and sex education in schools. Sorry I've got no time to post more but search for #czarnyprotest and I think there is a protest outside the Polish embassy here tomorrow at 4pm. Just aaargh.

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antimatter · 28/09/2016 13:37

1 min video (you can watch it without sound)

antimatter · 28/09/2016 11:15

Lass there was no sexual education in 1981, that's why there was such high level of abortion instead of women using the pill.

After 89 Solidarity and all government went to bed with CC and we have situation as it is now.
In just one generation women's rights are taken away from us.
I think it will take another generation to rebuild democracy. Realising that is so frightening for Polish people.

Another article on PubMed summarises situation in 93 very well
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12287103

After the fall of Communism in Poland, the Catholic church exerted pressure to increase its influence in public life. One way in which this pressure has manifested itself has been in the passing of a restrictive abortion bill which was signed into law on February 15, 1993. Abortion had been legalized in Poland in 1956 and was used as a means of birth control because of a lack of availability and use of contraceptives. The number of abortions performed was variously reported as 60,000 - 300,000/year. In 1990, the Ministry of Health imposed restrictions on abortions at publicly funded hospitals, and 3 deaths were reported from self-induced abortions. In 1 year (1989-90), the number of induced abortions at 1 hospital dropped from 71 to 19, while the number of self-induced abortions increased from 48 to 85. Further restrictions were introduced in May 1992 as part of the "Ethical Code for Physicians," which allows abortions only in cases where the mother's life or health is in danger or in cases or rape. This code brought abortions to a halt at publicly funded hospitals and doubled or even tripled the cost of private abortions. Women have been refused abortions in tragic and life=threatening situations since the code was adopted. When an outright anti family planning bill was drafted in November 1992, the Polish citizenry collected 1,300,000 signatures to force a referendum. The referendum was not held, but the bill was defeated. The amended bill which passed allows abortions in publicly funded hospitals only when the mother's life or health is in danger and in cases of rape, incest, or incurable deformity of the fetus. The implications of this law remain unclear, since its language is strange and vague. The reproductive rights of Polish women face a further threat because the Catholic church is working to limit the availability of contraceptive methods which they deem to be "early abortives." On the other side of the issue, the Federation for Women and Planned Parenthood was established in 1992 and presently has 9 member organizations dedicated to reestablishing legal abortion and to helping women avoid unwanted pregnancies through sex education and contraception. Polls show that the new abortion law dose not reflect the favorable attitude of a majority of the Polish people toward legal abortion. It is unfortunate that Polish women will now have to fight for the rights that were once given to them.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 28/09/2016 01:23

Signed the petition, but I doubt it will do any good.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 28/09/2016 01:18

This research is from 1981. I'm actually surprised it's taken so long to get to the current situation. I was always nervous about some of the baggage that came with Solidarity.

Contraception and abortion in Poland. - PubMed - NCBI
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7286170

1st trimester abortions have been legal and widely available since 1956, and Polish women terminate 1/5 of their pregnancies by abortion. However, 1/3 of Polish women of reproductive age state that they believe abortion should be made illegal and more than 1/2 believe the law should be made more restrictive. 55% said that religious factors should be taken into account in matters pertaining to abortion

Scarydinosaurs · 27/09/2016 20:41

Thank you, anti. That sadly only confirms what I feared.

How far does this legislation go? Is the MAP banned? The mini pill?

To ban abortions is one thing- what are they doing to protect the babies that will then be born? Better adoption systems? More money for families on low incomes? Better provision for contraception for both men and women?

antimatter · 27/09/2016 20:22

*181 men

antimatter · 27/09/2016 20:22

54 women in the ruling party's club and 181. Every single one voted for this change to the reproductive rights.
Yes women vited for it in the name of Catholic religion they believe in!
PiS has majority in the Parliment.
Apart from them there were members of other parties who supported this proposal by voting yes for it.

The possible consequences of this change are as you mentioned death of a pregnant woman.
Or if she miscarry and found guilty may go to jail like it is happening now in Guatemala, N.Ireland or Malta.

olafisking · 27/09/2016 08:09

Haven't read all the articles but if the wording is 'causing the death of a conceived child' then there is also a massive risk for women pregnant with wanted children as it leaves the door open for prosecution of women who miscarry if 'lifestyle' is deemed to be a factor. Very, very worrying Sad

RoseDeGambrinus · 27/09/2016 08:07

Thank you everyone for sharing the petition and the protests. It's just awful.

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Scarydinosaurs · 27/09/2016 07:56

This is so shocking. I feel very saddened that this has happened. Out of curiosity, what is the ratio of men:women in this right wing ultra conservative government? I can't imagine it's anywhere close to 50:50 with them passing draconian anti female laws like this.

WinchesterWoman · 27/09/2016 07:47

My god that's appalling

antimatter · 26/09/2016 23:05

Yes, I am taking part in that run/walk as well.

Here's BBC's article: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37449903

duende · 26/09/2016 20:57

There is another protest event - BlackRun.
I'm Polish and I can't believe this is happening. :((

#BLACKRUN is a protest against proposed stricter abortion law in Poland!

Hundreds of women will gather near London Bridge this Friday at 8pm to walk/run 3km towards Westminster as a protest against stricter abortion law in Poland!

No legal abortions “Stop Abortion” law introduce jail sentences of up to five years for causing “the death of a conceived child”. It would apply both to women seeking abortions and doctors and health professional carrying them out!

Please join us against the ban and show your support and solidarity with women in Poland!

30 September 2016; London Bridge @ 8pm. Please wear black!
Thank you!

www.facebook.com/events/309061779469792/

ThymeLord · 26/09/2016 20:25

I've signed. I can't believe this is happening.

winnybella · 26/09/2016 11:54

antimatter I'm not on Facebook, are there any other petitions?
I quite like the idea of the sort of protest the Icelandic women held in the 70s, great majority just refused to turn up for work.
Writing to the Polish Embassy?
Feel so helpless, Polish living in France, argh.

antimatter · 26/09/2016 11:51

In case you know anyone Polish please pass event to them on FB www.facebook.com/events/309114396133478/

antimatter · 26/09/2016 11:43

Please sign and share petition in support of fast disappearing human rights of Polish Women

www.facebook.com/PolishFeminists/posts/1805578466353201?notif_t=like&notif_id=1474886432034822

antimatter · 26/09/2016 11:33

Parlimentary majority is Ultra Catholic (PiS called Law&Order), and they are dismantling democracy bit by tit as well.
Overwhelming support (over 60% in the last poll) is for women to have Abortion and right to choose.

This current update of the law is going much further and the public doesn't know the actual facts because we are preaching to the converted (FB and the likes).
I imagine that the situation is not far off in what Brexit was like where people were thinking they were voting for something completely different.
(btw I live in England but I am Polish as you might have gathered)

MorrisZapp · 26/09/2016 09:19

That's a fucking outrage. But presumably these right wing catholics hold a parliamentary majority? What's the general view on these issues in Poland?

Xenophile · 26/09/2016 09:13

A young colleague of mine, who has a university place starting in a week's time, has just found out she's pregnant. Not that it's anyone's concern but theirs, but they double up on contraception, because she's young and has stuff she wants to do before having children.

Her mother is Polish, her father Irish. When she came to talk to me about what's going on in her life and what she may or may not decide to do about it, she mentioned in passing that, had she been living in either of her parents' home countries, she would now have no options. She doesn't know what she will do, her head is telling her that an abortion is the only sensible thing to do, but she's conflicted. I didn't try and influence her one way or another when we discussed her various options.

Being pro-choice is just that. Not being all out for abortion, because that's just stupid, but calling for women to have choices.

Can you let us know how we can help with things, antimatter?

antimatter · 25/09/2016 22:43

The Polish parliament - led by a large majority of ultra conservatives - is about to pass a law to criminalise abortion, depriving women their rights over their own body!
Polish women now risk 5 years in prison, even when they are victims of rape or incestuous abuse. We are going back to the middle ages!!!

This ISwar on women.

It looks like there is going to be general strike of Polish women on Monday 03/10

We, in London, are going to have picnic in support of the strike.

I am so angry, I went to the protest in front of Polish embassy yesterday.
We got support with speakers from Irish, Spanish, South American and Northern Irish reproductive rights activists.
Yes, it is happening in Europe, in EU, in a democracy!

Bumbledumb · 25/09/2016 22:05

How can you sign up to everything you sign up for when you join the EU, then do this?

Northern Ireland is part of the UK, and abortion is still illegal there. A woman was given a prison sentence for having an abortion here in the UK this year. We've been in the EU since 1973.

Xenophile · 25/09/2016 17:20

The difference has come because Poland has elected an ultra conservative, pro Catholic, Right Wing government in since joining the EU.